FLY ABOVE THE THOUSAND PAGODAS OF BAGAN
Being 47 – I’ve decided to start collecting all the absolutely “musts” that I had the pleasure of experiencing throughout my adult life (at my age one can never know what a new day will bring, or take)
This is the first of them.
Here goes:
I hate waking up before dawn. I hate standing and freezing in the wee hours of the morning, consoling myself with a cup of lukewarm tea. I hate loitering near a wrapped band of gas canisters let on fire. I hate knowing that the only thing separating my feet from 100 meters of air is a bucket made out of a thinly knitted stack of hay of unknown quality.
Yes. I hate all of the above, but still – I’ll do it all over again if I ever get the chance.
And so should you.
Flying a balloon over the ancient ruins of Bagan, Burma, has been one of the most remarkable experiences of my life. A top 10 on my own private Bucket List.
Yeah, that good!
My own private Shangri-La
Burma has always been a mystery to me. Everyone got their own Shangri-la. I guess the country now referred to as “The Union of Myanmar,” is mine. My travels took me over there ten years ago. I remember each and every day in Burma as a unique, exceptional and fascinating experience. None, however, compare to the dawn balloon flight over the thousand spectacular pagodas of Bagan.
Perched on a large band of the mighty Irrawaddy River, Bagan is Burma’s ancient capital, a bit like Jerusalem is to us Israelis, but without the mosques, churches and synagogues. Also without people. Bagan is deserted and has been so for centuries. Nature has consumed its streets, houses, and gardens but it could not destroy its hard stone pagodas. These are still standing tall – some of them very tall – above the wooded plateau.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I guess this holds especially true when it comes down to a thousand spectacular ancient towers densely scattered all they way to the horizon.
Landing is a bit of a tricky thing…
Landing is always a bit of a tricky business when it comes to balloons. That one was no different. At least we had a very nice breakfast and few glasses of Champaign to help us forget the fact that we almost tipped over while landing in the crosswind.
Never mind that. The overall experience is so stunning as to leave the witness conflicted.
Should you forget your camera and immerse your senses in the stunning scene around you? Or should you focus on recording it for posterity? – which I eventually did.
Flying over Bagan is not cheap and – I admit – would not be to everyone’s pockets. If you’re clinically afraid of heights, you can pretty much scrap that one out of your list as well.
Otherwise, this must be one of the best “experience of lifetime” deals you can find.
Don’t miss it!
